Motor-vehicle frame.



Pa'femea Feb. ||z |902.

.1. L. SPENCER. MOTOR VEHICLE FRAME.

(Application filed Aug. 8. 1901.2

(Jin Mqdelpf 2 Slleets-Sheet l INVENTOR a l-\t0\f ATTORNEY 3M Eggs/Le WITNESSES:

Noi 693,1al. Ptehted Feb. n, |902."

J. l.. SPENCER.

M OTOR VEHICLE FRAME.

[Application filed Aug. 8, 1901 l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-I

JOHN L. SPENCER, OF ELMIRA HEIGHTS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO LE ROY TABOR,

OF EIJMIRA, NEW YORK.

MOTOR-VEHICLE FRAM E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 693,181, dated February 1 1, 1902.

Application tiled August 8, 1901.

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN L. SPENCER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elmira Heights, in the county of Chemung and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement -in'Motor-Vehicle Frames, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the frames or runnin g-gears for vehicles, and more particularlyto such as are adapted for self-propelling vehicles. i

The object of my invention isA to provide a frame of simple, cheap, and strong construction which shallhave its parts so articulated that the frame will readily accommodate itself to irregularities in the roads over which the vehicle is propelled, the wheels and axles being thereby maintained in proper'running relation. 1

I attain my object by means of the construe tion illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Ihave shown my invention as applied both to a simple and vto a'truss frame, and in whiclr- 'j Figure l is a plan view of a simple frame embodying my improvements; Figs. 2, 3, and 4, transverse sections on the lines X X, Y Y, and Z Z, respectively, in Fig. l; and Figs. 5, 6, and 7, a plan view and side and end elevations, respectively, of my improvements as applied to a trussed and braced frame, certain parts in Figs. 1 and 5 being broken away in order to show the details of construction.

Similar letters refer to like parts in the several views.

Referring to Figs. l to 4, inclusive, A and B represent forward and rear axles, which maybe either solid or tubular. O and D represent the side bars or reaches, and it is the manner of coupling these reaches to the axles which comprises myinvention. E represents a coupling-head which is brazed or otherwise suitably attached to the reach C where it is coupledto the axle B. The coupling-head E is fastened by means of the pin F to the yoke G, which is secured to the axle B, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the pin F being placed parallel to said axle. At theother end of reach C, where it couples to the axle A, is fastened a pin H, which pin is journaled in the sleeve I, secured to the axle A, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the pin H being held in the sleeve I by Serial No. 71,340. (No modell means of jam-nuts or other suitable devices, as indicated. The reach D is provided with coupling parts precisely the same as those described for the reach C, with the exception that the position of the parts on the reach is reversedthat is to say, the sleeve I and pin e H couple the reach D tothe axle B, and the coupling-head E, pin F, and yoke ,G couple it to the'axle A. each reach is coupled tothe axles by hinge joints parallel to the axles at one end and v transverse to the axles at the other, these parallel and transverse hinge-joints being arranged in reverse order on the two reaches, and it will be readily apparent that by reason of such arrangement the tilting of one axle with reference to the other as thewheels run over uneven roadways will be accommodated by the play of the reaches in their respective couplings and the strain on the frame which would otherwise result will be relieved. While this construction allows for the necessary flexibility of the frame in its horizontal plane, the couplings are of such a nature that` the axles will be'maintained at all times in parallel vertical planes and firmly held from twisting in the couplings or tilting to the front or rear.

It will be understood that the reaches C and D vmay be. placed either above the axles or dropped below them by means of the coupling parts G and I, and also wherel it is desirable that one ot' the axles should Irotate in driving the vehicle that that` axle shall be journaled' in suitable ball or' roller bearings in the coupling parts G and I.

In Figs. 5, 6, and 7 I have shown a frame in which the axles are trussed and the reaches braced, the parts being coupled together upon the same principles as above described. A' and B' represent the axles, which have curved truss-bars fastened in suitablel socketpieces at the ends, as illustrated in Fig. 7. Reach C Where it couples to the axle A' is provided with a coupling-head E', which is forked to engage the coupling-piece G', attached at the bottom to the axle A' and at the top to the truss-bar, a pin F' coupling the parts E and G together at a point between the axle and vthe truss-bar, as shown more particularly in Fig. 7. Projecting outwardly from this end of the reach C is a brace c, which is hinged It will` thus be seen that IOO at g upon a pinf, which pin is in alinement with the pin F. At the other end the reach C where it couples to the axle B is provided with a pin H, journaled in the sleeve I, which projects inwardly from the couplingpiece I', located between the axle B and its truss-bar. The sleeve I is provided with a brace fi, which is secured to the axle B at r. The reach D is coupled in like manner to the axles A and B, the coupling parts, however, being in reverse order from those described in relation to reach C', and the operation of these parallel and transverse hingejoints will be readily understood from what has gone before.

Having thus described. my improvements, and without confining myself to the precise details of construction taken for illustration, what I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, sv

l. A vehicle-frame comprising front and rear axles and two reaches connecting said axles, said reaches at one end being journaled in stationary sleeves set upon the axles at j i signature inpresence of two Witnesses.

right angles thereto, and at the other end, be-

ing provided with coupling-heads joined to the axles by pin connections set parallel to the axles, similar coupling devices being placed in reverse order on the respective reaches.

2. A vehicle-frame coniprising front and rear axles and two straight reaches connecting said axles, said reaches at one end being journaled in stationary sleeves set transversely upon the axles in alinement with the reaches and at the other end being provided With coupling-heads joined to the axles by pin connections set parallel to the axles, simi-v lar coupling devices being placed in reverse order on the respective reaches.

3. A vehicle-frame comprising front and rear axles and two reaches connecting said axles, said reaches at one end being journaled in sleeves rigidly set upon the axles in a trans; verse position thereto with brace-bars running froin the inner ends of the sleeves to the axles and rigidly connected therewith, and at the other end being provided with coupling; heads and brace-bars joined to the axles by pin connections set parallel tothe axles and in alinenient with one another, similar coupling devices being placcd in reverse order on the respective reaches.

In testimony whereof` I have affixed my JOHN L. SPENCER. lVitnesses M. E. VERBECK, EDITH L. MILLER. 

